Conroe Lawmaker Wants to Kill Houston-Dallas Bullet Train, Even if It Doesn’t Touch His District or Public Money
Imagine a train that could whisk you from here to Dallas in 90 minutes flat. Texas Central Railway, a private company working with a Japanese train manufacturer, wants to make that possible by 2021. A ticket to ride, the company says, would be “very competitive with those of airlines.” And,…
Adrian Peterson’s Suspension Overturned By Judge
When it comes to off the field crime during the NFL’s calendar year, 2014 will be remembered as much for Roger Goodell’s questionable handling of punishment as it will be for the crimes themselves. Of course, there was the Ray Rice domestic assault case, whose discipline process set a new…
Houston Rodeo Horticulture Competition Shows Off Beauty and Wildlife
For many, the word “horticulture” evokes memories of biology class and the geeky side of the plant world: scientific classifications, pH balances and the like. However, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Horticulture program is much more interesting than it might sound on the surface. It’s a collection of programs…
Meghan Trainor Carried Herself Like a Superstar Bigger Than House of Blues
Meghan Trainor, Sheppard House of Blues February 25, 2015 It’s easy to look at pop music from a conspiratorial mindset. If the industry wants an act to get big, it eventually will. Whether they take a gem and polish the edges into something marketable or create something in the lab,…
The Longhorn Steer Competition Just Got Even More Interesting
The Texas Longhorn is an iconic breed perhaps most representative of the state. Their majestic horns can span up to seven feet tip to tip. When in groups, they have a tendency to butt heads and lock those big horns, so what happens when six or seven steers are all…
Kids Put Their Nutritional Knowledge to Work in the Houston Rodeo Food Challenge
Kids from 48 FFA and 4-H chapters all across Texas will put their food knowledge to the test in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Food Challenge. This “Iron Chef-style” competition is designed to promote the importance of agriculture. Allyson Tjoelker, executive director of Agricultural Exhibits, says, “It’s based not…
Check Out “Christian” Group’s Awesome Bigotry Map
They’re out there — anti-Christian groups that want to turn our children into homosexuals and sue God-fearing business owners into bankruptcy. But since many of the people in these groups are so good at concealing their horns and pointy tails, they’ve been able to hide in plain sight. Until now…
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: When the Fairies Come Out to Play
During William Shakespeare’s lifetime, there was a lot of belief among the populace that fairies and other magical beings could cast spells on you while you were sleeping, says Kim Tobin-Lehl who is co-directing A Midsummer Night’s Dream with her husband Philip Lehl at Stark Naked Theatre. Both are looking…
The American Homebrewers Association Rally at Saint Arnold Had Something for Everyone (Who Loves Beer)
Founded in 1978, the American Homebrewers Association is a national organization founded to promote homebrewing and to help homebrewers connect with one another. According to Gary Glass, Director of the AHA, total membership is more than 46,000, spurred on in part by the rise in craft breweries but also by…
Archer Sags Into Middle Age in Its Sixth, “Unrebooted” Season
TV shows aren’t too different from people in at least one respect: The longer they’ve been around, the less interest they tend to garner. But the sixth season of FX’s beloved spy spoof Archer is like few others. It’s an “unrebooting” of the previous year, in which creator Adam Reed,…
Chef Chat, Part 2: The Pit Masters Russell and Misty Roegels of Roegels Barbecue Co.
Why change from an easy-to-pronounce franchise name like “Baker’s Ribs” to an independent place called Roegels Barbecue Co.? In the case of Russell and Misty Roegels, it was a desire to connect their name and hard work to the quality barbecue and sides they produce day in and day out…
Houston Texans Notes: Quessenberry’s Cancer in Remission
The NFL has done a nice job of making sure there are very few dead spots in the offseason calendar. Even when there’s no football being played, the NFL season always seems to be in motion. However, this week and next week are the closest things we will get to…
Aerosmith Drummer Joey Kramer: Coffee Kingpin & Part-Time Texan
There is no more quintessential “Boston” rock band than Aerosmith. Since their formation some 45 years ago(!) they’ve proudly stood for everything Beantown, and even have an official city historical plaque in front of their old living/rehearsal space. But goddamn — it’s cold up there right now! And as of…
Houston Rodeo Guide: Something for Everyone at the Big Show
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has been an enduring success since it started as the “Fat Stock Show” way back in 1932. It has grown into an enormous collection of shows, auctions, exhibits and activities that has something for everyone. Whether you’re a cattle rancher, horse rider, child, parent,…
Two Star Symphony vs. the Seven Deadly Sins
Houston’s own neo-classical darlings in Two Star Symphony are back with their first full-length album in three years. Seven Deadly Sins lives up to its name, exploring each of the classical transgressions in seven individual songs. Normally I don’t go through an album song by song, but that’s Two Star…
My Son Won’t Accept My New Man. Help!
Welcome to Ask Willie D, Rocks Off’s advice column where the Geto Boys MC answers reader questions about matters, in his own words, “funny, serious or unpredictable.” Something on your mind? Ask Willie D! I FATHERED A CHILD OUTSIDE OF MY MARRIAGE Dear Willie D: I messed up big time,…
2015 FPSF Lineup Brings On Mixed Emotions
Scanning this year’s FPSF lineup, my first thought was “I see they’re not going out of their way to quiet those people who keep calling it a sausagefest,” followed closely by, “R. Kelly…seriously?” I was thrilled to see the likes of Gary Clark Jr., St. Vincent, Charles Bradley and Riverboat…
